THOUSANDS of pooches head for Crufts next month but pure-bred beasts are not the only dogs off to the arena this year.

Five very special pets have been shortlisted for the Crufts Friend For Life Award in recognition of the help they give their owners.

Each dog has already won its category and will go head-to-head with the others to be crowned the overall winner.

Here, EMMA COX meets three of the owners and hears all about their amazing animals.

Sarah & Waffle – Winner: Child's Hero award

DOG: Waffle, the cocker spaniel/poodle cross.

OWNER: Sarah Mohammadi, from Hayes, Middx.

UNTIL a friend raised the subject, Majid and Sapedeh Mohammadi had never even heard of assistance dogs for the deaf, and had no interest in having a pet.

But once they started researching the subject, they realised how much their daughter Sarah, 14, could benefit.

Since Waffle arrived more than five years ago, life has changed beyond recognition for Sarah, who has been profoundly deaf since birth as a result of a viral infection.

Sapedeh says: “I knew about guide dogs for the blind but I’d never heard of hearing dogs.

“Once I started looking into them, I thought, ‘OK, we need one of these’. We had never really had much interest in dogs so it was a big lifestyle change but we all absolutely love Waffle.

“She bonded with Sarah so quickly. Within a couple of months, everything she owned had a dog pattern on it. She adores her.

“And Waffle loves Sarah, too. She sits at the front door 20 minutes before Sarah is due home for school.

“She’s better than a clock. Waffle has really changed Sarah’s life.”

Tasks that Waffle carries out for Sarah include waking her up in the morning and alerting her to any fire or smoke alarms.

Sarah sleeps in her own bed for the first time, too.

Before, she was too scared of the silence to sleep alone but now, with Waffle’s bed next to hers, she is no longer afraid. Sapedeh says: “The biggest difference is Sarah’s confidence because she has put her trust in Waffle and she knows she will look after her, no matter what.

“Before, when we were out and about, she would not even make eye contact with a stranger.

“But now, she’s happy and she’ll explain to people, ‘This is Waffle, she is my ears, she does this and that for me’. It’s a huge change, to see how she’s grown. It’s amazing, really.

“Waffle is so much more than a pet. It’s great to be able to raise awareness of assistance dogs and share this award with all the other wonderful dogs out there who do such fantastic jobs for their owners.”

Sarah adds: “I’m really happy and really excited to go to Crufts. I like to meet other people with assistance dogs.”

Vanessa & Sir Jack Spratticus – Winner: Breed Rescue Dog of the Year award

DOG: Sir Jack Spratticus, the border terrier.

OWNER: Vanessa Holbrow, 47, from Berrow, Somerset.

VANESSA’S bond with her dog is stronger than most – because she credits him with saving her life several times.

She suffers from anorexia and complex mental health problems, including post- traumatic stress disorder, but since Jack came into her life, her health has improved hugely.

She says: “I owe my life to this dog. There wouldn’t have been a reason for carrying on otherwise. I can’t say Jack has given me a miracle cure because I find it an incredible challenge to eat, but I do the best I can because of him. He’s the reason I strive to get better.

“Jack is an extraordinary dog. He has enabled me to do things I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Vanessa, 47, decided to look for a rescue pet after realising seeing dogs in the park made her happy. She says: “I noticed that even if I was feeling very distressed, I could see a dog and it would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”

With the help of the charity Border Terrier Welfare UK, she found Jack, who was 13 months old and had had three different homes.

Vanessa worked hard to help him overcome some behavioural problems, and together the pair both healed.

Jack is now nearing the end of his training as an assistance dog, learning jobs like emptying the washing machine, getting Vanessa’s medication and sitting on her lap for comfort if she is panicky.

She says: “When I met Jack it was love at first sight. I used to dread taking him to training classes, as I found the social aspect terrifying. But we powered through it. Due to the classes, I now have a group of friends – having always found it hard to interact with people.

“Jack has had a profound effect on my emotional development. I love and feel loved for the first time in my life.“

She adds: “Jack’s the best-known dog in town. He loves to pose for pictures wearing my sunglasses and hats. He’s just a cool dude.”

Hannah & Buttons – Winner: Man's Best Friend award

DOG: Buttons the shih tzu.

OWNER: Hannah Gates, 19, from Hazlemere, Bucks.

WHEN Hannah nearly died from a stomach condition, she found it hard to bounce back.

She spent weeks curled up on the sofa after doctors diagnosed her with ulcerative colitis during a two-week stay in a high-dependency unit.

Unmotivated and putting on weight because of steroid medication, she was despairing – until doctors insisted she started exercising.

Hating the gym, Hannah hit on the idea of doing some dog agility with her pet Buttons. Now the pair compete regularly – and Hannah’s weight has dropped from 11st to 9st 3lb. She has also made a brand new group of friends.

Hannah says: “I was very ill. They didn’t give too high a percentage of survival or recovery when I was in hospital but I did get through it.

“When I got home, I had a lot of muscle wastage in my legs from lying so still and I couldn’t walk for long, so I camped out on the sofa and watched telly for days on end with Buttons next to me.

“I was taking eight steroids a day, along with various other drugs, and I was eating absolutely loads so I put on quite a lot of weight. It wasn’t healthy and my mental health wasn’t good either.

“I knew that I had to do something but I’m not sporty so I didn’t want to go to the gym or run.

“My mum and I came up with the idea of dog agility and Buttons and I took to it instantly.”

The duo have now been doing it for three years and take part in competitions across the South West. She says: “Buttons races with me around the course.I love watching her having a wonderful time.

She’s quite laid back normally but when she does agility she’s completely different. She comes out of herself. We can both be quite shy but it’s helped us build confidence together.

“A lot of friends didn’t really stick around once I got ill because I was in and out of hospital all the time.

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“But I’ve met loads of lovely people through the agility.”

Hannah still has flare-ups of her condition, which is similar to Crohn’s disease and causes excruciating pain and diarrhoea.

She says: “Buttons will sit quietly with me when I’m not well. She’s an angel.

“I would be in a really poor place if it wasn’t for her. She’s a very special dog.”

• Crufts is at the NEC Birmingham, March 8-11. Follow the action and highlights on Channel 4 and More 4. For further information and tickets see crufts.org.uk.

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